Monsoon Session to begin from August 5
New Delhi: The Monsoon Session of Parliament will start from August 5 and conclude on August 30. The Cabinet committee on political affairs headed by Defence Minister AK Antony on Monday finalised the dates of the session which is likely to be stormy. During the 26-day-long session the Government would pass the Bill replacing Food Security Ordinance and make efforts to pass its land Acquisition Bill while the opposition would be offensive over the coal scam and target the government over the JPC report on 2G scam.
MDl joint venture gets Def Min nod
New Delhi: The Defence Ministry has cleared the Pipavav shipyard-Mazagon Dockyards (MDl) joint venture but with a rider that it won’t be nominated for any of the warship projects with the Government shipyard and will have to bid through the normal process to get such contracts. After allegations of favouritism and non-compliance in formation of joint ventures between PSUs and private shipyards, Defence Ministry had put on hold the MDl-Pipavav JV in April but cleared it recently after making changes in its guidelines on such tie-ups.
Govts’ replies sought on Police authorities
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday sought responses from the Centre and all State and Union Territories on a PIl seeking direction to forthwith establish Police Complaints Authorities to hear and decide various complaints, including custodial death and torture, against cops. A Bench headed by Chief Justice Altamas Kabir issued notices to Ministry of Home Affairs on the plea of four Goa residents who alleged that they were tortured, stripped naked, racially abused and maliciously prosecuted by the police.
SC notice to Centre on Karuna’s plea
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to Centre on DMK chief M Karu-nanidhi’s plea seeking direction to Government to retrieve island of Katchatheevu which was given to Sri lanka in 1974 and make it as part of Tamil Nadu.